Words and music by Malcolm LeMaistre
Malcolm LeMaistre Vocals, acoustic guitar, 12-strings guitar, organ, piano, keyboards, whistle, percussion, kazoo
Pete Baynes accordion, piano, keyboards, ukelele, backing vocals
Conrad Ivitsky double bass, electric bass
James Mackintosh drums, percussion
Innes Hutton acoustic guitar
Rab Howat rickenbacker guitar, electric guitar, Spanish guitar
Didi Finlay violin, backing vocals
Max & David factory workers
In 1968
I woke one morning and the sky was black
and I thought this can't be real
I looked into the early air and tried to see and feel
I touched the day. the quick and the dead
and I found it hard to breathe
the change that came was strong
it was more than just a dream
we travelIed East. we travelled South. we tried to travel West
the sun rose over Paris on the road to Marrakech
back home our loved ones tried to understand
but the dawn had broken
and our lives were in our hands
no more lies on a Saturday night
no more work and being late
time for change had come at last
you know the lights came on in 1968
free love was just a game but true love was never free
the tanks rolled over the Eastern plains
as the king made his final plea
on the streets the draft cards burned
but they were just marking time
and the music oh the music was our wine
no more lies on a Saturday night...
Jimi's hands were hands of dreams he gave us life absurd
in Central Park that summers day life was just a word
but across the night. across the sea. we could hear the call
look around look around look around (13 times)
or the night will fail
no more lies on a Saturday night..
Nothing strange
standing on a bridge the wind was blowing lightly
I watched the river flowing
the men sit silent staring at the water
the black in their minds makes uneasy reading
two girls walk by saying we're going dancing
two boys stripped like lovers swim away
I watch those carefree lives without you
and you know I can't think what to say
there's nothing strange about a broken heart
there's nothing strange about being in love
there's nothing strange about being apart
but there is no change when there's nothing strange
out beyond the skyline the heart's are beating
the factory dust hides the distant hills
the people stand in line. they're waiting for their lives
it's not the cold it's the season that kills
there's nothing strange ..
Men and boys
you worked the coal and the steels white heat
and feel the bond with those you meet
where the bricks lie broken flowers grow high
where the factories stood too proud to die
you stand alone on some ruined ground
and you dream of the strength
and the vigour and the sound
but the roads are empty, chilled with dust
strangled by power, religion and lust
oh men and boys you took that chance
on some crazy war and one last dance
but for the kids who grieve when you are gone
for them life goes on
you felt the fire and fought the fight
for faceless men who think they are right
you fill the graves that line the hills
on the edge of towns were the wind lies still
oh men and boys you took that chance
on some crazy war and one last dance
but for the kids who grieve when you are gone
for them life goes on
for the women who grieve when you are gone
for them life goes on
as you gaze across an empty land
and the waves crash down on the coral strand
you know your dreams can still come true
those fears and hopes that live in you
kids are sleeping, curtains are drawn
against the news that comes at dawn
another grave to line the hills
on the edge of towns where the wind lies still
oh men and boys you took that chance
on some crazy war and one last dance
but for the kids who grieve when you are gone
for them life goes on
for the women who grieve when you are gone
for them life goes on
oh men and boys ..
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